Lyme disease

[sledcrazyinCT]

I've read of people that sit in a 102+ degree hot tub for an hour a day and have reported some improvement.

Sweat it out has helped a friend of mine. His doctor recommended a sauna and it helps him at times

[fabiodriven]

Sounds as if you may have bee afflicted by a female deer tick at some point and may not have noticed as they are so small..I too live in the new england area and those pesky ticks are everywhere.

Thanks very much for posting Dave! I was in fact bitten by a horse fly and there is no question on that. It didn't just leave a welt, it actually took a chunk of my flesh with it. After it bit me I was sitting by the edge of the water and I was amazed at how much me the fly had taken with it, fat bastage.

Pulling + praying for you as well from S.W. Michigan.
Really wish I could camp with you more then 1 quick week in June.

I can assure you the feeling is mutual my friend! I thank you graciously for your thoughts and prayers!

Have you looked into a LLMD yet?

I have not. I'm not sure if you missed my post after having seen the holistic doctor, post #13, but modern medicine is powerless to treat Lyme and therefor is no good to me. I will not live my life with this affliction nor will I become a full-time patient or livestock off of which the medical community can profit. I enjoy all that I have acquired over the years and my happiness and freedom are paramount. I would sooner die than trade that to become their lab rat. Don't get me wrong, the suggestion is greatly appreciated. A girl I've been hanging out with was suggesting the very same thing to me Wednesday evening after I had seen the holistic doctor earlier that day. She was sending me link after link of what Mass General Hospital in Boston can do for Lyme patients. For those who aren't aware, Mass General (MGH) is on the cutting edge of just about all kinds of ailments. People come from all around the world to go to MGH. Upon review of the links I was sent my first thoughts we utter disappointment. Their "breakthrough" they were touting was some sort of new procedure that is focused on the arthritis that is associated with Lyme. Before I say anything more, I must say that there are people out there with arthritis so bad from Lyme that they can't move physically, they can't walk or anything, so in certain instances this is a big deal. It's great that they may have had some sort of breakthrough, however what about the myriad of other problems Lyme causes? I won't start listing them all, but they literally encompass the entire body. What about my appetite, equilibrium, headaches, and on, and on, and on... Honestly I'm just not impressed. I WANT THIS GONE, ALL OF IT. I want these bacteria eradicated from my body and I don't want the associated infections that Lyme brings with it. MGH has no answer to that, not even close, and they are the pinnacle of modern medicine, however the person I am seeing has claimed, and I have every reason to believe him thus far, that he can rid me of this. I won't have to leave my home and all I call dear, I won't have to rot in a hospital bed forced to watch the man's cable TV propaganda all day, and I won't have to surrender everything I own so I can afford to make these wealthy people more wealthy. In the end I'd most likely be "thankful" that everything I own is now theirs and "at least I'm still alive". That doesn't sound like living to me personally. Plus I already know they cannot do what this man can. The choice is clear to me. My route is cheaper, far more effective, and it will be done with minimal time lost at work. Watch me go! But seriously, thank you again Camino. All suggestions are greatly appreciated but the modern medical community has nothing for me.

I have had dozens (if not hundreds) of tests over the last decade, and the only conclusion reached is that they all cost me money. I have days when I can't even walk, and often can't sleep for several days in a row.

If I might make a suggestion, you may want to consult a holistic doctor. I'm just a man, I don't know everything, but I am amazed at what this guy has done to me. I've been to doctors before in my 36 years obviously, however I've never left a doctor before saying that I was "amazed". If anyone I know would like to see the guy I'm seeing they are welcome to. I even have a guest house.


Which brings us to now... As I posted, yesterday afternoon into last night was hell on earth. Simply put, most people will go their entire lives without ever feeling that bad ideally. One thing that I must elaborate on that has a very strong effect on me and that makes me very angry is the lack of understanding of other people when someone is sick. I have said until I'm blue in the face, I have Lyme disease. I fell face-first into my bed yesterday afternoon as I said, still in work clothes with boots on and everything. I awoke a spell later to try and find the energy to remove my boots and clothes and get into the shower. I had explained to those close to me that I was extremely, extremely ill tonight and I would not be around. From experience I locked my door as persistent and caring friends don't seem to understand at certain times you must combat these things on your own. My phone absolutely would not stop. A friend called me and I ignored it. I didn't have the energy to speak on the phone. I texted him back explaining to him that I was extremely ill and I'd catch up with him another day. He immediately called again, the frig dude! I wanted to tell him to frig off something fierce, but I just didn't have the energy. Two minutes later he pulls in the driveway. This is why I locked the door. I very clearly told him I was bedridden. Have some respect! His intentions were the best I suppose. Not ten minutes later I get a text from a friend having a fire in his back yard. He's aware I'm sick in bed. First picture he sent I said to myself jeez that would be fun, wish I could join him. Then I thought I wish he wouldn't have sent me that. I nicely wrote something back and appreciated his good intentions. Then he sends two more pictures and tells me I should come by. The other arse-clown isn't even out of my driveway yet. All I want to do is lay here and get through this and these fawking people are acting as if I can just waltz out of bed. Do they think I'm making this up? Do people think I am acting as if I'm dying over here? Why on earth? This is not fun for me. Untreated this will kill you, this is a huge fricken deal! This is another bad part of Lyme disease, people just don't understand. If I had cancer, if I had a heart attack, if I had Hanta virus, would it be different? If so, why? A third friend was texting me last night. I explained to him that I was extremely sick and I sent him the link to tell him that I was "herxing". He continues to text me back over and over again, he was concerned, I get it, but I was asleep. He's worried, am I OK... Then his last text said he "hopes I'm knee-deep in va-jay-jay because he doesn't understand otherwise why I wouldn't be answering his texts". Could it be I'm not answering because I have Lyme disease, of which he's well aware, and that I'm extremely sick right now, just as I told him, and that I'm herxing, of which I also told him?! Come the frick on people! So please, if someone you know has this, please treat them as such. OK, maybe I don't look that sick, but I can assure you I am very, very ill right now.

Last night was torturous. I was writhing most of the night and doing my best to sleep through it. I would awake periodically drenched in sweat. My sheets and my clothes were soaked. As awful as it was, it's a great feeling knowing that all of what I was going through was in the name of progress. That was Lyme kicking and screaming as it is dying. I am still in bed now, I woke up about two hours ago feeling pretty good. Not nearly what I was Thursday, but I am on my way. My glands in my throat were swollen yesterday, as they get when you're getting sick. They didn't feel quite so bad upon my awaking this morning. I got into the shower and clearly I needed to hock a loogy. There was a lot in my throat, I really had to hock deeply I guess you would say, it was making me gag a bit. When I fired the loogy onto the floor of the shower I was amazed at what I saw. It was of a color and texture that of which I've never seen come out of my body in my entire life. Mind you, I'm a 20 year smoker. When the Lyme came back swinging hard after Trikefest, I didn't have a choice but to stop smoking. I say stop, but what I mean is "stop". I will still smoke 2-4 cigarettes after work and have a couple on the weekends. I have quit smoking before and I have hocked up some nasty shite. Whatever I hocked up this morning was unlike anything I've ever seen. Then I fired off a snot rocket. Once again, this disgusting thing came from my nose with a similar color and consistency of the thing I had just hocked up. No idea what that was all about and I don't aim to gross everyone out, this is for the sake of accuracy. I am confident I will be cured of this incurable disease and I want this all to be on record, to be known. People's lives are ruined every day from this affliction and your doctor will tell you there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. I want to come out on top here and have a solution for something that there isn't supposed to be a solution for. So far so good.

Again thank you all and we shall see where this road leads.

[fabiodriven]

My phone absolutely would not stop. A friend called me and I ignored it. I didn't have the energy to speak on the phone. I texted him back explaining to him that I was extremely ill and I'd catch up with him another day. He immediately called again, the frig dude! I wanted to tell him to frig off something fierce, but I just didn't have the energy. Two minutes later he pulls in the driveway. This is why I locked the door. I very clearly told him I was bedridden. Have some respect! His intentions were the best I suppose.

My buddy came by again this morning and I must say the entire reason he was coming by last night was the tremendous amount of respect he does have. Lyme is obviously very tough on a person both mentally and physically and I mistook his huge level of concern for me as him being a pest. I hadn't told him what was going on yesterday, I had informed a lot of other people, but I hadn't told him yet he knew somehow. That's why he was as insistent as he was on coming by and checking on me. Shame on me for getting upset with someone for showing so much concern for me. He's a true friend and I'm lucky to have so many of those.

Today has gone really well. As I said I awoke in pretty good shape. It's hot as blazes and sunny as frig outside and the season is really short here in the Commonwealth. It takes a lot to keep me inside all day on a day like this. Rest is probably the best thing for me right now, but I was hungry and able to eat this morning (as a matter of fact I'm starving right now) and letting a day like this go to waste is far too sad of a proposition for me to accept, especially after the hell I endured last night. My buddy came by with his bike and I broke out the Buell to just go "up the street a ways". Well four or five hours later or whatever it's been and I'm home again. Kind of crazy to think I'm up and around after what I've just been through, and clearly not the best idea, but I am a child of the sun and as such I must act on that if I can. I feel very grateful I was able to do what I was today. I'm going to eat something now and despite being begged to join some people out tonight that I'd really love to, I'm going to find some movies to watch with the cat for the evening. The fact that my condition improved as rapidly as it has solidifies the theory that I was indeed "herxing", which again is a good thing. Doc told me this morning since I've improved so much not to bother seeing him until Monday. Thank you all for reading.

[atc007]

Sounding better Loving it !

[sledcrazyinCT]

Sorry to hear your feeling so bad, I wish there was something I could do for you, ...What I can do is ask the fellas at work what they are doing to combat this illness, maybe they'll have some suggestions. I do know that one of them sees a specialist in CT who deals with similar symptoms, I'll find out tomorrow and get back to you......Hang in there buddy...Sincerely Dave Clark

If I might make a suggestion, you may want to consult a holistic doctor. I'm just a man, I don't know everything, but I am amazed at what this guy has done to me. I've been to doctors before in my 36 years obviously, however I've never left a doctor before saying that I was "amazed". If anyone I know would like to see the guy I'm seeing they are welcome to.

Too many doctors dismiss this disease and have no basis to discredit a patient that asks to even have a blood test to check!

I have two friends that are battling Lyme now for decades. Unfortunately both were not diagnosed for years, just experiencing ailments that no doctor could pinpoint. What you describe in your thread both have experienced. It is unimaginable the pain and mental afflictions from Lyme disease to people that have not contracted it or know a friend or family member battling Lyme.

[Dirtcrasher]

I have always believed that when the doctor leaves the room and says "give me just a minute...", he goes off to spin his "roulette wheel" of cures to try on the patient; It almost seems as if they know less about your illness than you do yourself.

I'm sorry to hear how bad this has been on you and I hope you can bounce back from this in time....

[DohcBikes]

I have always believed that when the doctor leaves the room and says "give me just a minute...", he goes off to spin his "roulette wheel" of cures to try on the patient

Awww, cut 'em some slack DC... They're only practicing!!

[Jd110]

I'm sorry and hope you get well. Sounds weird, but I think about you often.


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[fabiodriven]

Hey thank you bud!

[atc007]

Hows it going Fab? I don't want to bother,but curious lol.

[fabiodriven]

Still going well Bill. I saw the doctor again this past Monday, it's Wednesday as I post this. Tuesday I felt really good but not stellar. Today I felt really good but the end of the day I was getting run down a little bit, not terribly though. One thing is for certain, I am eating right again. Before as I had said, I was basically force feeding and I wouldn't feel hungry. I'd just go right to sick. Now my appetite is really good, possibly almost back to normal. I ate ravenously last night and I'm not done eating tonight. I'm impatient to get well completely, so I forget how far I've come. It was just a week ago that I was delirious and having a whole host of problems. So far the improvement is drastic Bill. I intend on getting rid of this completely and so far so good. I'll see the doctor again next Monday. Thanks for asking!

[atc007]

There is no doubt in my mind you will. Glad to hear it is working!

[atctim]

Fabio, out of curiosity, you ,mentioned that you are "eating right again". So what are you actually eating? Clean and whole foods? I am just curious as I need to start "eating right" again too, and this is the perfect time of year to start, as home grown, un-poisoned, garden vegetables are beginning to reach their peak ripeness.

[fabiodriven]

Tim I've just started and the last time I did this was just to see the overall benefit. For some reason I just wanted to give it a shot. This time it is not of my choice and therefor not quite as enjoyable. I am supposed to be cutting out sugar and dairy which were both a huge part of my diet as of late. Lyme loves sugar and the dairy doesn't help either. This is unfortunate because I basically live off of cheese and bread, followed by cheese, then usually some Cheez-Its and three packages of fruit snacks. I'm exaggerating slightly, but you get the idea. My diet of good home made healthy meals that I had been adhering to last year is long gone. These bacteria that cause this disease are inside of me, they essentially are a part of me. They're in my nerves and my brain. They want sugar, therefor I want sugar. Sounds crazy but I have to ignore the cravings. I drank Vitamin Water XXX all day every day for as long as I can remember, but just yesterday I came to the realization that it's just too much sugar to be chugging that all day. I just stopped that yesterday, still have a fridge full.

I used to eat a fresh fruit cup (not soaking in syrup), a Kellogg's yogurt with granola you mix in, and sometimes an Uncrustable for breakfast. There would be changes from time to time, a bagel here, egg Mcmuffin there... Lunch would be either a sandwich I brought or whatever I could find. Fast food burger, pizza, whatever. Now I still have the fruit cup. The yogurt is a no-go, too much sugar. No more Uncrustables. Oh gluten is bad for this as well and I have no idea what foods have gluten, it's never been a concern of mine. Honestly I'm afraid to look. I guess most meats aren't terrible but I'm not sure. So now what I have in my cooler is sandwich bags full of fruits and vegetables. Baby carrots, green beans, bananas, snap peas, strawberries... No more Vitamin Water, I guess regular water now. Even eating all of that I am starving so I've cheated a couple times already and I'm just getting started. Picking between starving and possibly being healthy is difficult. My stomach is begging me for food and it's in my best interest to oblige, I need as much food as I can eat, but I'm so limited as to what I can eat. I'm operating in a fog so it's difficult for me to concentrate on something as simple as combining four ingredients in a wok which makes cooking more of a chore now as opposed to something I enjoy, which is unfortunate because I was a fantastic cook and I loved it. I've made stir fry the last few days with fresh vegetables and Ramen style noodles. It takes a lot for me to decide something as simple as what I'd like to eat. My sense of smell and taste seem to be malfunctioning as well.

Honestly there are a lot of things going on inside of me. This has the ability to move around inside of a person, it is a part of me, so I guess we have to hunt it. I'm nervous now, had to leave work early today. It's absolutely gorgeous outside but it hurts me on days like today. It's in my head and telling me bad things, and it doesn't like the sunlight. I love the sun, you see me at Trikefest. In this condition my eyes and skin are sensitive to the sunlight and I feel sick. I had to go right to bed when I got home. Then I had to get up and eat, which means I have to cook because there's nobody to do it for me and I can't just eat whatever anymore. I can't pop something in the microwave or just throw a sandwich together. I have to cower in here, on my own, should be working, could be doing so many things, but here I am. Never take your health for granted.

As far as treatment goes; the results initially cannot be ignored. The day after my first treatment I had improved drastically, and that is not an exaggeration. My appetite came back almost immediately, my craps improved shortly thereafter, my head was clearing, and the evening of the day after I got treated I had the best sleep I've had in months. All of that was a big, big deal. I was extremely excited at that point. I felt really good for most of the weekend, just improved all around aside from the brief "herxing" which is actually a good thing. I got treated again Monday of this week and was doing well. Not the huge improvement I felt from the first time, but still an improvement and still doing well. Today wasn't quite as well. There are a lot of effects of this and it can get to you from time to time. I spent the last ten years figuring out how to get my head on straight only to have this hit me. In my position one can't help but wonder if he is to spend the rest of his life sick, battling, and alone. This is not the existence I intend to lead. I suppose some days will be better than others but better days are not to come if I can't work and I can't work if I'm not healthy. As I may have mentioned already, I have a habit of looking down the road. I don't know which way this is going just yet but the rough road is a very big possibility at this point. What I've accumulated may have to go which would be an undertaking in and of itself. I'm having problems knowing what to buy at the grocery store right now, never mind liquidating assets. There isn't really a whole lot I can do at this point but keep trying.

Getting better is still a feasibility, however not getting better is a possible reality. As of now I release any fiber of my youth or hope at young love and a family I still clung to. We are all right where we're supposed to be right now living the exact lives we're supposed to be living and I am where I am because of my own actions and decisions. I see happy couples, all my friends are paired up and happy. They all have kids, a family. I've had some spectacular women in my life and having someone to share life with is the best part of existence for me. It beats everything else by a long shot, however it's proven so elusive at times. Worse yet, it's been elusive while I was young and virile, never mind old and sick. So it is what it is, either way. I've gotten away with a lot in my life. I can either get away with it again or maybe not this time. Maybe I've used up all my passes. Time will tell.

A bleak post, yes, albeit an accurate one. People should know what this is regardless of the outcome. Thank you all again for posting.

[El Camexican]

Getting better is still a feasibility, however not getting better is a possible reality.

No, no, no! Not getting better isn't a possibility, or an option! Don't even think it! The power of the mind is stronger than any physical ailment. The problem is we don't know how to use it (the mind) to it's full capacity yet. I can't promise you a cure, but I can guarantee you that if you ever give up in your head, your body will embrace the decision.

I'd suggest that you make that grocery list as far in advance as possible and with your mind and not your cravings and know what you're going to be eating the day before. It's like a weight loss diet, you have to plan it out because if you wait till your hungry you'll screw up every time. If it helps think about what the food will do for your body, not what it will taste like.

Man up soldier, you've got a war to win and a lot of people cheering for you!!!